Federal Funds May Be Used To Demolish Privately Owned Bridge

EXETER — A crumbling piece of history in Luzerne County will come down at the expense of taxpayers.

A railroad bridge over the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County is falling apart and could give way without warning.

The owner of the bridge was in court for a criminal trial last month. Officials say Leo Glodzik can’t pay for demolition on his own, so county officials are stepping in and will likely use federal disaster dollars.

Now, state officials say taxpayers will likely foot the bill to demolish a crumbling railroad bridge in Exeter which Glodzik bought for a few hundred dollars with plans to scrap the metal.

“Our major concern is that the next big flood that would come down the river, that it would take out those two piers and portions of the truss structure would collapse into the river,” said flood protection authority official Chris Bellman.

The Department of Environmental Protection says it issued Glodzik a notice of violation in April, telling him that he needed to repair his bridge or have it taken now.

6 comments

Marisagram

A federal grant for flood cleanup does not need to be paid back. Hence the term “grant”. This money has already been taken from the tax dollars of United States taxpayers. So- if they try and raise your taxes to “pay” for this demolition, just say BALONEY! Grants are federal assistance or loans to individuals, benefits or entitlements. A grant is not used to acquire property or services for the federal government’s direct benefit.

Marisagram

Will the county recoup money from the sale of the scrap metal? If so where is the money credited? If the bridge is owned by L. Glodzik, will he receive the money? If not is the county purchasing the bridge from him prior to it’s demolition?